Brandie Deignan - 'Basketball is a natural home for cultural diversity'

Brandie Deignan sits on the Basketball England Board of Directors and chairs the organisation’s equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) committee.  

The 21 May marks UNESCO's World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development and Deignan has written an opinion piece on how basketball fosters not only inclusion but belonging.

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UNESCO's celebratory day mirrors basketball's own rich diversity.

This special day honours the richness of our world's cultures, just as basketball celebrates both the diverse playing styles and multicultural player base that make our sport so dynamic.

Basketball England continues to work to advance our approach to diversity in sport. We continue to dedicate ourselves not just to inclusion, but to fostering genuine belonging within our basketball community.

Why Inclusion Is not Belonging

There is a fundamental difference between inclusion and belonging that we must recognise.

Inclusion is about opening the door and inviting people in; belonging is about ensuring they feel valued, heard, and integral to the community once inside.

In basketball terms, inclusion might look like having ethnically diverse players on the court, yet belonging means that each player feels confident to bring their whole self to the game, trusting that their unique perspective and style are accepted and celebrated.

Basketball is a natural home for cultural diversity. Our global appeal makes it uniquely positioned to celebrate cultural diversity. From its invention to its current status as a worldwide phenomenon, the sport has always transcended borders. Our courts across the country reflect the richness of our multicultural society, where players from different backgrounds unite through their shared love of the game.

This diversity enriches our sport immeasurably. Different cultural approaches to teamwork, strategy, and movement create a dynamic, evolving game that's stronger for its variety.

Create belonging

To open our community to further belonging, it is important that we all create it by:

1. Listening actively: Go beyond hearing words to understanding experiences and perspectives different from our own
2. Make space: Actively create opportunities for underrepresented voices to lead, coach, and shape the future of basketball in England
3. Challenge comfort: Step beyond familiar patterns and actively seek out diverse perspectives that challenge and expand our understanding
4. Celebrate differences: Actively celebrate the unique contributions each person brings to our sport.

To every individual in our basketball community, I say, trust your difference. Your unique background, perspective, and approach to the game are essential.

Whether you are a player whose style reflects your cultural heritage, a coach bringing innovative methods from your community, or an official whose life experiences inform your decisions, your difference makes our sport richer.

Let's all commit to fostering genuine belonging:

1. Create safe spaces for difficult conversations about identity and experience
2. Develop initiatives that actively seek out and amplify diversity
3. Ensure our leadership reflects the diversity of our community
4. Measure success not by numbers alone, but by the depth of connection and belonging people feel

When everyone truly belongs, basketball isn't just a reflection of our diverse society, it helps lead it forward.

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